Peppermint Protein Balls

Do you need nut-free snacks for school or kindy? But still want something that will fill them up? We do. And it means we need to get creative because at home we use nuts and nut butter in practically everything! 

These bliss balls are packed with fibre and protein and my 4yo LOVES them. They are the perfect high energy snack for a big kindy kid. Just don't mention the chickpeas! 

PEPPERMINT PROTEIN BALLS

1 tin chickpeas, drained and rinsed well
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup dates
2 heaped tbs raw cacao
1 ts vanilla extract
5 drops Peppermint essential oil*
-
Desiccated coconut (to roll the balls in)

Add all ingredient to your food processor or Thermomix and blitz until the mixture clumps together (about 10 secs / SP 8).

Roll spoonfuls into balls and roll in desiccated coconut.

Store in the fridge or freezer.

Makes approx 18 depending on how big you make them. 

Mine tend to get bigger as I go along because I get sick of rolling them! 😂

Make sure you like and share this recipe if it would be helpful for others and don't forget to let me what your little ones think when you make them! xx

*I only use and recommend doTERRA essential oils. Click here for a quick guide to essential oils, doTERRA and how you can get your own (no matter where you are in the world!)

Nut-free Bliss Balls

So I was feeling really organised - I'd chosen a handful of favourite recipes to prep and freeze for school lunches and was all set to start. Then I remembered that my youngest is starting kindy and all the food we provide has to be nut-free. *face palm*

At least I remembered now and not on the first day!

So back to square one with the recipes.

I whipped up these nut-free bliss balls to go in the freezer and will add 1 to his lunchbox every day. I got 16 out of this batch so they should last us about 6 weeks as long as sneaky fingers don't sneak them out of the freezer!

If your child will notice and freak out about the visible green from the pepitas, by all means, roll the bliss balls in coconut to cover them up. Mine don't care luckily as I had run out of desiccated coconut!

With the dates, these are definitely not a low-sugar option but they tick lots of other boxes and will be a great high energy snack for my very active 4-year-old.

Enjoy!

Nut-free Bliss Balls

1 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup pepitas
1 cup dried dates (soaked in boiling water for 5 mins and drained)
1 heaped tbs raw cacao
1 ts vanilla extract
pinch salt
5 drops Wild Orange essential oil (optional - I only use and recommend doTERRA)
2/3 cup desiccated coconut (optional - extra to roll the balls in)

Place the dates in a small heat-proof bowl, cover with boiling water and leave to soften for 5 minutes. Drain and place into your food processor or Thermomix bowl.

Add all remaining ingredients and process until the mixture is sticky and clumps together (TMX SP 5 / 30 secs).

Roll mixture into balls and if desired, into desiccated coconut.

Store in fridge or freezer.

Makes approx 16

What are your favourite nut-free school snacks? Please share some recipes below as I need a refresher!

Susan xx

Christmas Bliss Balls with Essential Oils

My boys have finished school and daycare, I've stopped setting my alarm and I'm making the time to get back into the kitchen - yep it's the Christmas holidays!

I love this time of year!

Leading up to the big day I will be sharing my favourite festive recipes flavoured with pure essential oils. Have you used oils in your food yet? The pure flavour is incredible and can take a very simple recipe to new heights of deliciousness. You generally need only a drop or 2 of each oil so it's also really cost-effective.

So which oils are suitable to use in your food? You will get a clue in the name eg. if it's a herb, spice or fruit it will be food-grade. I only use and recommend doTERRA essential oils and you can find more info about the oils and how to purchase here.

doTERRA essential oils for use in food:

- Wild Orange
- Lemon
- Lime
- Grapefruit
- Basil
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Oregano
- Cinnamon
- Cassia
- Cardamon
- Clove
- Black pepper
- Cilantro
- Coriander
- Fennel
- Ginger
- Lemongrass
- Peppermint

Yummo!

I made these festive bliss balls for an oils class last weekend and they were a big hit! Packed with flavour, they are perfect for when you are asked to bring a plate and I guarantee you will have trouble stopping at one!

Christmas Bliss Balls (with essential oils)

140g raw almonds
100g dried dates
80 g dried cranberries
pinch salt
1 drop cinnamon essential oil
2 drop ginger essential oil
3 drops wild orange essential oil

Place all ingredients into the Thermomix and blitz for 30 seconds / SP 9.
Roll mixture into balls. Makes approximately 14.

What's your favourite Christmas recipe? xx

Gingernut Bliss Balls

I am a ginger in a house full of gingers who also happens to LOVE the flavour of ginger!

So it's no surprise that I keep finding ways to incorporate my beautiful ginger essential oil into my diffuser blends and into my food.

This is my favourite ginger infused diffuser blend to have on at the moment and I don't care in the slightest that it's Winter not Autumn. It smells cosy and comforting and like there's something delicious baking in the oven!

The other ways I like to use it are in my stirfrys with lime and lemongrass oils, and in my quinoa porridge with cinnamon oil. So delicious and such an easy way to get incredible pure flavour.

These recipes are on my list to try next:

Carrot rice with Ginger and Mint
Lazy Avocado Sushi
Glazed Spicy Sweet Potatoes

I wanted to make something different for my last essential oils class so came up with these ginger nut bliss balls. I know not everyone loves ginger as much as me so I kept it quite mild and tamed down with the addition of wild orange. If you are a ginger fiend like me and not serving them to kids, you might like to add another 2-5 drops of ginger oil, tasting as you go!

They are absolutely delicious and quick snack to grab on the run.

Gingernut Bliss Balls

1 1/2 cups raw almonds
1 scant cup pitted dates
50g extra virgin coconut oil
1 ts vanilla extract
1/2 ts salt
5 drops Wild Orange essential oil
10 drops Ginger essential oil

Place all ingredients into the food processor and blitz to a sticky crumb.

Roll teaspoonfuls into balls and store in the fridge.

Makes approx 16.

Do you like ginger? What's your favourite ginger recipe? x

Cacao, Cranberry and Orange Bliss Balls

Years ago, before we had kids and still when my eldest was little we used to buy tons of dried fruit as a 'healthy' snack. Not realising that dried fruit is such a concentrated source of sugar and that most commercial dried fruit contains a preservative called sulphur dioxide which is linked to asthma and respiratory distress, and if you have a sulphite allergy, can actually be fatal.

Jeez, what a downer hey?

I was totally shocked when I first heard about this and I remember going through the pantry to check each and every packet of dried fruit we had. And sure enough, it was on every. single. label.

Looking back it now makes sense that I would feel a tightness in my chest and start to cough every time I ate dried apricots. But at the time I never really made the connection because I knew I wasn't allergic to apricots.

These days we choose not to eat much dried fruit.And when we do we are treating it as a source of sweetness for recipes rather than 'this is healthy so let's eat the whole packet.'

Generally I make bliss balls without any added fruit, preferring to use rice malt syrup as a fructose free sweetener.

But I've had a packet of organic dried cranberries sitting in the pantry since Christmas and it was high time to use them up, so I came up with these bliss balls. The cranberries are still dried with sugar but it is all organic and they don't contain any preservatives.

Anyone who has tasted these bliss balls has immediately asked for the recipe, so that's a sure sign of a winner!

Cacao, Cranberry and Wild Orange Bliss Balls

220g raw almonds
1/2 cup dried cranberries
6 dried dates
4 tbs coconut oil
1 heaped tbs cacao powder
pinch salt
5 drops Wild Orange essential oil
desiccated coconut for rolling

Place all ingredients into a food processor or high powered blender and blitz until the mixture sticks together (TMX about 10 secs / SP 8).

Shape into balls and roll in desiccated coconut.

Makes approximately 12.

Do you make bliss balls? What's your favourite recipe? Let me know below!

Susan

Wild Orange Bliss Balls

So if you haven't already noticed, today is Valentine's Day. Happy Valentine's Day!

Do you do Valentine's Day?

We don't but it is definitely a good excuse to make something chocolatey for dessert!

I've actually been making these little bliss ball beauties for my doTERRA classes that I've been running at home and for friends.

They have been such a hit that I now make them for more special occasions too.

I've been loving experimenting with using different essential oils in cooking and baking.

Plus it's so handy to be able to add a drop or 2 of lemongrass, ginger or fennel, for example, to give a big boost of flavour when you might not have those ingredients handy.

The intense flavours of wild orange, lemon and peppermint oils pair so beautifully with raw desserts like slices and bliss balls.

I've made lemon balls and a chocolate-peppermint slice recently that were just divine so keep an eye out for those recipes soon.

Wild Orange Bliss Balls

1 cup raw cashews
1 cup dates
1/2 ts vanilla paste
Pinch salt
4 drops Wild Orange Oil (I use and recommend doTERRA essential oils, click here to find out why)
30g dark chocolate
Zest of 1/2 orange

Place the dates and cashews into the Thermomix or high-powered blend and process to a fine crumb. Add the vanilla, salt and orange oil and process until the mixture clumps together.

Roll spoonfuls into balls and place in the fridge.

Melt the chocolate ( I do it in a small glass bowl over a small pot of hot water simmering on the stove). Drizzle over the tops of each bliss ball and top with a sprinkle of fresh orange zest.

Makes approximately 10

Have you used essential oils in cooking before? Do you have a favourite oil or recipe you would like to share? Let me know below!

Susan

Healthy Christmas Rum Balls

Now I know I'm venturing into dangerous territory here.

It seems like everyone's mum or nanna makes rum balls at Christmas - and everyone thinks their version is the best!

Some have crumbled cake, some use crushed biscuits or weetbix, all have chocolate and of course, rum.

My previous favourite back in my BW days (Before Wholefoods) was this version I made with Madeira cake and condensed milk. So good but so bad!

I've tried a few different variations and this one is a definite winner.

It has the fewest ingredients and tastes out of this world!

They are rich, intensely chocolatey and have a lovely warmth from the rum. Just perfect.

So I started these a few days ahead of time by soaking the sultanas in the rum and leaving them to steep. As soon as the rum was gone and the sultanas were plump and juicy they were ready to use.

If you don't have time for that (or just don't want to), you can place the sultanas and rum in a small saucepan, bring to the boil and then simmer until all the liquid is absorbed.

Despite it being school holidays I have somehow managed to keep these hidden from the kids in the freezer. They are definitely adults only and if I'm honest, just to good to share!

Healthy Cacao Rum Balls

1/2 cup organic sultanas*
2-3 tbs rum
250g organic raw almonds (or almond meal)
2 heaped tbs raw cacao + 1/2 cup extra
2 tbs coconut oil
pinch salt

*See the post above for details on how to prepare the sultanas and rum - by either steeping or boiling. When you are ready, follow the instructions below to make the rum balls.

Place the almonds into your food processor and blend to a fine meal (Thermomix 10 secs / SP 9).

Add all remaining ingredients (except the extra cacao) and blitz until the mix is sticky and clumping together.

Place the extra 1/2 cup raw cacao into a bowl.

Roll spoonfuls of mixture into balls and then drop into the cacao. Toss until covered and place into a storage container.

Makes approximately 16 balls.

Store in the fridge or freezer.

Do you have a favourite treat that it just wouldn't be Christmas without? Tell me below!

Christmas Bliss Balls

4.57 am.

Why do I always wake up at 4.57am these days??

Today I got up straight away and crept downstairs to enjoy the extra quiet time by myself. And at the bottom of the stairs, I took a deep breath and smelt ... Christmas.

After going to the markets on the weekend our fruit bowls are full of mangoes, pineapples and peaches and the smell instantly transported to me my childhood Christmas holidays on the Gold Coast!

The power of smell is truly amazing don't you think?

I can't quite believe it but today is the last day of school for the boys. All the breakup parties, concerts and swimming carnivals are done and Christmas will be here before we know it.

This year I'm easing myself into some Christmas cooking with some simple and oh-so delicious bliss balls that have some of the best flavours of Christmas time.

These little beauties are free from gluten, dairy and refined sugar and taste fabulous. I defy you to taste one and not get a smile on your face!

They were also a great way to use some of the blackstrap molasses which I bought but then couldn't remember why!

I've just included the Thermomix ingredients here but of course a food processor or high powered blender will also do the job.

Super quick and no baking - the perfect Christmas treat!

Christmas Bliss Balls

3/4 cup rolled quinoa
3/4 cup organic sundried dates
1/2 cup raw almonds
A thumb-sized piece of ginger (grated)
1 tbs blackstrap molasses
zest of 1 orange
1/2 ts vanilla extract
1/2 ts cinnamon
14 ts salt
1/8 ts ground cloves

Place the quinoa flakes and almonds into the Thermomix and blitz for 8 seconds / SP 9.

Add all remaining ingredients and process for 30-40 seconds / SP 8, or until the mixture is sticky and holds together.

Roll spoonfuls into balls and store in the fridge.

Makes 16-18 balls.

Do you have a favourite food or smell that reminds you of Christmas?

Superfood Bliss Balls

What a week! I don't normally post on a Saturday but after attempting to write up this post for days now is my first chance! Mr 2 has been home from daycare this week with some sort of virus that caused conjunctivitis and just as it started to clear he broke out in spots. Before having children I had no idea there were so many illnesses that caused spots! Being the third child we didn't even take him to the doctor (he's completely fine now by the way).

Anyway between having a clingy and sick 2 year old hanging off me, and trying to complete two whole subjects before the September school holidays,  I haven't had a whole lot of spare time.

So this week, yet again, bliss balls saved my life.

I have made a ton of different bliss balls over the past few years, but it was actually only once I had my third baby that I really appreciated them. When Mr 2 was very little I used to make a batch of bliss balls every week and had them stashed in the freezer for a quick breakfast, a mid-afternoon pick me up or a late night snack while feeding.

This week there quite a few times when I was hungry but didn't want to make anything from scratch, so I grabbed 2 of these from the freezer and was completely satisfied.

These ones are a little different in that I have specifically chosen ingredients to suit my health at the moment. There is no gluten, nuts or refined sugar and they have an extra boost of superfoods. Think antioxidants from the raw cacao, zinc from the pumpkin seeds, calcium from the tahini, fibre and essential minerals from the dates, good fat from the coconut, along with the amino acids, minerals and hormone balancing properties of maca.

Oh, and they're totally delicious!

As with anything containing chia seeds, make sure you check your teeth before venturing out in public!

Superfood Bliss Balls
Recipe by me

2 tbs (20 g) raw cacao
1 tbs (15 g) maca powder
1/4 cup (40g) chia seeds
1 cup (150g) pumpkin seeds
1 cup (65g) desiccated coconut
40 g tahini
1/4 tsp sea salt
80 g semi-dried dates
30 g coconut oil
zest of one orange

Place all ingredients into the food processor and blitz until the mixture clumps together (Thermomix 20 seconds / speed 6).

With damp hands, roll spoonfuls of mixture into balls.

Makes about 20

Store in the fridge or freezer.

What's your go-to snack?

Almond and Chia Bliss Balls

I have become a huge fan of bliss balls in recent months. I love that I can whip up something so tasty, filling and nutritious and just have it stashed in the freezer to grab whenever I want.

Life has become extra busy since Oscar started school and most days I don't have time to eat a proper breakfast before we leave. But there is always time to eat a bliss ball or 2 on the run which keeps me going until we get home and I can take a few minutes to sit down and eat properly. Not exactly ideal when you are breastfeeding but it's certainly better than nothing!

I have made literally dozens of types recently but this one was especially delicious and both the boys love them too.

Bliss ball recipes are very forgiving so if you don't have a particular ingredient you can easily substitute for something else eg, honey for the rice malt syrup, peanut butter for tahini etc.

Almond and Chia Balls
Recipe by me

200g toasted almonds
1/2 cup chia seeds
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup dessicated coconut
1/4 cup tahini
2 ts vanilla extract
1 heaped tbs coconut oil
2 tbs rice malt syrup
generous pinch sea salt

Place all the dry ingredients into the food processor and blitz to a fine crumb. Add the remaining ingredients and process until it comes together in a sticky ball. If the mixture is too dry you can add some extra syrup or a splash of rice milk. Roll tablespoons of mixture into balls and store in the fridge or freezer. Makes approx 20.